Putting Students First in a Global Classroom

Dr. Orna O'Brien, Director, University College Dublin

My career to date stems from my interest in student engagement and the opportunity to see a student take a path that wasn’t previously available to them on the basis of their studies, and flourish. As a teen, I used to work part-time with my mum in student recruitment, and I think the experience really shaped how I view higher education. I still remember meeting international students who had come to Ireland in the 1990s to study education here and at the time hearing of the impact it had on them, their perspectives and their careers. Ireland was quite monocultural back then, and it was fascinating to meet these students. Learning how students from Africa and South America experienced Ireland and then navigated college life had a profound impact on me and the value of education to change their direction in life.

Navigating the Scale of Global Campuses

My current role with UCD is exciting and no two days are ever the same. I am very lucky to have a highly experienced team to support UCD’s activities and ensure students have a very good experience regardless of where they study with us. The time difference between Ireland and Asia can sometimes be challenging if a student's needs are time-sensitive.

The university has invested extensively to ensure we have a strong team on the ground, too. I do wish I had more time to be on the ground in both locations—a hyperloop between Dublin and Orchard Road would certainly make life a lot easier.

Embedding Inclusivity through Curriculum and Clubs

I really hope each student has at least one UCD club or module that really resonates with them. UCD has worked hard to build a curriculum that is driven by the fundamentals of business as well as emergent trends. Equally, outside of the classroom, we have worked hard to develop a co-curricular programme which offers lots of different opportunities that align with our strategic pillars as a college.

“It isn’t always the technology that makes for an effective student learning experience”

Some examples in Singapore include our UCD Public Speaking Club, the UCD Sustainability Club and its project, which was funded by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and the UCD Social Impact Squad, which helps students make a societal difference, be it through supporting a local soup kitchen or a children's charity. I really want to develop future business leaders who have the social skills to make a difference in business and society.

People over Platforms in Learning Success

To be honest, I have used most of the platforms at this stage, and my experience is that it isn’t always the technology that makes for an effective student learning experience. It is still the staff who are driven to engage and support students, which makes the biggest difference. Some of the bells and whistles available on very slick platforms don’t hold a candle to a staff member who is very driven to engage their students and get to know them. I am always inspired to hear of how my UCD colleagues are compelled to work with their students and make sure the module and UCD experience really resonates with them.

Connecting Campuses for a Global Classroom

I am really excited about bringing our students from our different campuses together more. Modules taught through our summer school, which brings students from different countries and programmes, is a wonderful melting pot.

Equally, we have some great modules where students are working on assessments across campuses. This really excites me and is a great experience for the world of work today. For our MSc online programme at the UCD Smurfit School, there are students from all continents working on different assignments and modules in real time.

This type of inspiring experience really helps students navigate not only their studies but the global business environment. This really is our global classroom at UCD!

Paying It Forward Through Relationships

Relationship management is really key to a lot of the work in higher education I do. Individuals need to be compelled to want to see students succeed. Equally, you need to be willing to put the time into building relationships to support the student infrastructure, be that in academic or more co-curricular terms.

As students complete their studies, it is common that they want to stay active in the university community and share their new skills and experience. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing students from years ago returning to teach a class, be a mentor or provide an opportunity for a student or soon-tobe graduate. It is wonderful to see the UCD community paying opportunities forward!